Casualty of War

As proud men and women they leave us for war Deserts and streets become their living hell What was once a strong soldier, ready for battle, Often returns as a broke empty shell. To so many who have fought in brutal wars past Home is under a bridge in a cardboard box Drainage ditch for a bath, soup kitchen for dinner Tattered shirt, dirty jeans, sore feet with no socks Our loved ones have always fought for our freedom As we look back on battles before Why should homless and starvation Be a casualty of war They all still love their children, family and friends Through wars horror it's to difficult to show Was it just one thing, or the sum of it all If we've not been there we will never know. A mother sits at home with her new baby girl Her husband searches Afghanistan for roadside bombs One simple mistake, now he'll never meet his daughter The young bride joins the list of single military moms. Our children have always fought for our freedoms, And these are wars like so many before Single parents and orphans have to often become A huge casualty of war Jane loses an arm, a surgeon fixes that Johnny has no legs yet he will run again But like thousands of others, their souls are shattered Why can't we fix their torment within So we put them back together piece by piece Titanium and plastic will help their bodies bend But their minds are stripped, IEDs and paranoia A damaged soul is no simple mend The purple heart, the medal of honor, Recognition that means perfectly well But how do we honor those who've returned And are stuck in their own living hell Our families have always fought for our freedoms And these are wars like so many before Now suicide of those who've returned Is the greatest casualty of war The purple heart, the medal of honor Recognition that means perfectly well But how do we save those who've returned And are stuck in their own living hell. How do we save those who've returned And are stuck in their own living hell.